Technicians make it happen - Dates: 1^st - 5^th July 2024.

Are you creative or do you enjoy problem solving? If so, join us as we showcase the exciting and important roles technicians play right across the University of Bristol. Explore with real-life Technicians the many different paths available which may lead into a technical career. What type of activities are Technicians carrying out, what does their working day look like, what does a technical career look like?

Through a variety of hands-on practical sessions such as histology, tissue culture, earthquake structural resilience testing, soil and water analysis or the tour of anatomy, you will see just how many different technical roles exist and learn which technician you are. Activities will vary but will cover all areas from Science and Engineering, Health and Life Sciences and the Arts (STEAM). For instance, what goes on in our specialist research and teaching facilities, what are 3D printers and laser cutters used for, how are ideas turned into real life items such as underwater cameras, how do owls and skulls fit in, what is it like to complete a technical apprenticeship, what does music and audio engineering involve?

Watch what Technical Apprenticeships at the University of Bristol are like on YouTube.

Animal Minds: evolution and behaviour:

We often think about animal diversity in terms of physical traits like size and colour. But the diversity of animal behaviour is just as striking and poses unique challenges to document, understand and explain. So how do scientists understand why animals behave the way they do? And how are these behaviours produced? We’ll take you on a tour of how biologists study evolution, then introduce how we can approach complex traits such as behaviour, with hands on practical sessions. This will include practical work ranging from analysing how neurons and brains function through to investigating the social networks of dolphins.

Biological Sciences - Green Planet

The history of life on earth has been shaped in large part by the evolution of plants, and now the future of our climate depends on preserving diverse forest ecosystems. We’ll introduce you to the amazing diversity of plants, how they develop and work, and their importance in shaping our climate. We’ll also consider how human activity is affecting natural forest dynamics and how this will impact our efforts to prevent climate change. This will include practical work ranging from plant development through to ecosystem structure and understanding climate modelling.

Biological Sciences Technical – Life in the Lab

All too often people have the misconception that universities are just about students and lecturers.  But what about the hundreds of support staff who keep their Schools ticking along.  Based in the Biological Sciences teaching laboratories, you will experience the skills required, and the diversity involved in working in a busy laboratory environment alongside the lab technicians who work there.  Activities will vary from year to year but are likely to include microscope skills; media/reagent preparation; working aseptically; basic equipment servicing; field collection techniques; plant propagation; aquarium duties; assisting in outreach activities and electron microscope work.  

Earth Sciences is the nexus of many STEM subjects, and we will use physics, chemistry, biology and maths skills to answer big societal or environmental questions. We will work in a chemistry lab, use geophysics equipment, look at volcanic hazards, talk about ocean acidification, explore evolution, and/or look at ore samples to think about natural resources. Activities include lectures, laboratory exercises and, usually, a local fieldtrip. Participants will also learn essential report writing and presentation skills and have the opportunity to meet current Earth Sciences students and staff.

Read more about work experience in Earth Sciences 

Watch what Earth Sciences work experience is really like on YouTube 

• Do you want to make a difference in the world?  
• Are you interested in technology and how it will affect our future?  
• Are you thinking about studying A-level Mathematics after your GCSEs?  

To find out how you can apply your creative problem-solving skills to address some of the critical issues humanity faces, join us for a week of hands-on workshops and activities using mathematics, computing, and engineering skills.  

Throughout the week you will gain an insight into subjects taught in the faculty of Engineering alongside developing important employability skills like communication and teamwork; as well as hearing first-hand from our students, alumni and industry partners about life at university and the careers beyond.  

Read more about work experience in Engineering  

Nematode Research Project - 24th - 28th June 2024 - 20 places

We are really excited to have young, talented, future scientist come to try their hand at some molecular and ecology techniques and help develop their science knowledge and experience.

This will be an exciting week where you can generate real scientific data on the diversity of nematodes in Bristol.  You will all get the chance to sample for nematode, extract their DNA, amplify that DNA by PCR and then read the DNA sequence to find out which species it belongs to. You will get to do all the techniques involved yourselves so you will get genuine first hand research experience.

Life in the Lab technical - 24th – 28th June or 1st - 5th July or 8th – 12th July - two places

All too often people have the misconception that universities are just about students and lecturers.  But what about the hundreds of support staff who keep their Schools ticking along.  Based in the Biological Sciences teaching laboratories, you will experience the skills required, and the diversity involved in working in a busy laboratory environment alongside the lab technicians who work there.  Activities will vary from year to year but are likely to include microscope skills; media/reagent preparation; working aseptically; basic equipment servicing; field collection techniques; plant propagation; aquarium duties; assisting in outreach activities and electron microscope work.  

Dates - 17th -21st June 2024 - 25 places

Join us for an exciting week where you will gain an insight into the different Life Science subject areas and understand what different skills and knowledge they require in each subject area.  You will be participating in interactive, hands-on practical’s in all subject areas such as biochemistry, biological sciences, psychology, cellular medicine, pharmacology, physiology and neuroscience.

You will visit some active world-renowned research lab where academics are working on many different research areas and undertake scientific sessions such as electron microscopy and the Human Patient Simulator. You will also spend two days working on a collaborative, small group research project and develop key employability skills such as data collection and analysis and problem solving.  

Dates: 1st - 5th or 8th - 12th April 2024 - four places

Get some work experience in a real medical setting and find out what being doctor is really like!  You will have clinical days focussing on medicine and surgery as well as hands-on sessions with practising clinicians and medical students.  This WEX week focuses on Cardiothoracic Surgeons who specialise in operations on the heart and lungs, from open heart surgery on the coronary arteries and valves, to removal of lobes of the lung for treatment of cancer. You’ll follow patients on their journey through their treatment; sitting-in on outpatient clinics, observing assessment of patients before and after their surgery and finally trying out your own surgical skills in our hands-on workshop. This will cover skills such as suturing, knot tying and even dissection!

Alongside this placement, you’ll also receive a virtual study guide with additional resources, revision tools and FAQs to help you get the most from your experience.  You can gain an insight into HE application and selection process and what skills they are looking for.